Retractable and folding toothbrush



1951 M. E. SHERLAND, sR

RETRACTABLE AND FOLDING TOOTHBRUSH Fild Jan. 5, i949 IN VEN TOR.

Mai hi7 Sfier/amfik A'ITD RN EYE Patented Dec. 18, 1951 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETRACTABLE AND FOLDING TOOTHBRUSH Mark E. Sherland, Sr., McGehee, Ark.

Application January 5, 1949, Serial No. 69,311

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to toothbrushes, and more particularly to a retractable and folding toothbrush for pocket and personal use.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a toothbrush which can be conveniently carried in the pocket or other receptacle and which can be easily extended and retracted for use and storage in the pocket or receptacle.

Another object is to provide a toothbrush with an extensible and retractible handle section having a threaded bore for receiving a correspondingly threaded actuator shaft which when rotated in one direction will cause the toothbrush handle to be extended and when rotated ina reverse direction will cause said toothbrush handle to be retracted.

Another object is to provide a toothbrush of the above mentioned type in which the threaded rod or shaft isprovided with a manually operable control knob to facilitate rotation of said screw rod actuator.

Another object is to provide a toothbrush having a sliding shank member which cooperates with a movable handle section to provide a tooth- 1 brush capable of being retracted and extended with considerable ease and facility. a I

Another object is to provide a toothbrush oi the above mentioned type which when in its folded position can be stored in a convenient carrying case and placed in the pocket without contaminating the bristles of the toothbrush from contact with other objects in, the pocket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush showing the same in its folded and stored position and approximately the same size as the actual product.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,. and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the threaded adjustable connection between the toothbrush shank and the handle and encasing section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged'side elevational view of the invention with the toothbrush in projected position.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the diametrically opposed guide ribs and guideways on the encasing handle section and toothbrush sectional shape of a portion of the actuator shaft to facilitate a swivel connection thereof with said encasing handle portion and Figure 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the sec-.

tional shape of the end of the actuator shaft to receive the manual control knob.

In the drawing, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and for the purpose of convenience of illustration the toothbrush comprises a tubular handle or encasing section generally designated 5, a toothbrush section generally designated 8 and a tubular cover likewise generally designated 1. The handle or encasing section 5 is formed of a cylinder 8 having one end open and the opposite end partially closed by an inwardly extending annular flange 9,

forming a central opening I0, (Figure 5). Formed in the cylindrical handle 5 is apairoi diametrically opposed inwardly extending guide ribs II, (Figs. 4 and 5) which areadapted to co-- operate with correspondingly positioned grooves l2 of an enlarged head 13 which is slidably mounted in the cylindrical handle section 5 and is provided with a shank l4 terminating in a flat brush back l5 having a series of brush bristles IS. The toothbrush 6 is of conventional design insofar as the bristle structure and mounting is concerned.

Rotatably mounted in the handle section 5 in the opening I 0 or the flange 9 is a screw threaded actuator shaft H which is provided adjacent one end with an annular flange l8 of increased diameter to bear against the inwardly directed flange 9 of the casing section 5. The threaded actuator shaft 11 is provided with a reduced rounded section I9 which forms a bearing surface for engaging the inner edge of the inwardly directed flange 9. A portion of the threaded actuator shaft l1 projects externally andlongitudinally of the handle casing section 5 and is squared for receiving an actuator knob 2| as at 20. The diameter of the actuator knob 2! is slightly greater than the diameter of the casing section 5, so that when the cover 1 is slidably fitted in place the end thereof will abut one of the radial walls of the actuator knob 2 I. The actuator screw shaft I1 is threaded for a greater portion of its length and is received in a correspondingly threaded longitudinal opening 22 in the enlarged 'tudinally thereof and extending 3 head I3. Thus, when the actuator knob 2i is rotated, the enlarged head 13 will be fed to and fro to project and retract the toothbrush 6 relative to the handle casing section 5.

The cover 1 includes an elongated cylinder 24 which is closed at one end as at 25 by means of a spherical wall such that sharp corners are elimi nated and damage to pockets and the like is prevented. The opposite end of the cover 1 is open for receiving the toothbrush 6 and being slidably and snugly coupled with the cylindrical casing and handle section 5.

The enlarged head I3 is, as shown in Figure 3, provided with a groove l2a extending longiinto said groove is a struck-in projection H a which is formed by cutting the metal in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical handle section 8 and punching the metal inwardly into the groove In. The projection I la cooperates with the inner end wall of the groove [2a to limit the outward move-' ment of the head I 3 with relation to the handle 5.

' From the foregoing, it will be understood that by simply rotating the manual control knob 2| the enlarged head [3 and toothbrush 5 will be projected or retracted relative to the handle casing section 5. When the toothbrush 5 is in its retracted position the cylindrical cover '5 can be applied to the handle casing section 5 to completely house the toothbrush 6.

It will thus be seen, that I have provided a toothbrush which is capable of being conveniently carried in pocketbooks, ladies handbags, cosmetic cases and other receptacles for personal and pocket use.

It is to be understood, thatthe form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment and that various changes in-the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to-without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scopeof the subjoined claim.

Iclaim:

In a toothbrush, a cylindrical casing section having an inwardly directed flange at one end forming a central opening, diametrically opposed longitudinally extending guide ribs on-the internal surface of said casing section, an enlarged 4 head slidably mounted within said casing. section, guideways in said head to receive said guide ribs, a shank formed on said head and projecting from one end of said casing section, a toothbrush supported on the outer end of said shank, a manually operable screw actuator rotatably carried by the casing section and having its threaded end received in a correspondingly threaded opening extending centrally and longitudinally in said head whereby said head may be moved from one end of said casing section to the other end of said casing section to retract and project said shank and toothbrush, an annular flange of increased diameter adjacent one end of said actuator adapted to abut with the inwardly directed flange on said casing section, a reduced rounded section on said actuator outwardly of the flange on said actuator forming a bearing surface for the inner edge of the opening of the inwardly directed flange on said casing, a square shaped projection on said actuator outwardly of said reduced section to receive an actuator knob thereon, err-'- ternally of said casing section to facilitate rotation of said actuator, an inwardly directed struck outprojection in said casing section, a longi tudinal guide groove in said head to cooperate with said projection and limit the projection of said head, and an elongated housing adapted to be snugly fitted over said casing section to enclose said toothbrush.

1 MARK E. SHERLAND, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the 

